A passionate and particularly dynamic winemaker, Jean Smit worked at Rustenberg and Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa, following his experience with prestigious wineries in California and in the iconic vineyards of Stéphane Ogier in Côte Rôtie. Throughout these years, Jean developed his own vision of wine and winemaking, striving to focus on the authentic, natural expression of the terroir. Damascene crafts wines from Syrah, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in unforgettable vineyards in Stellenbosch, Swartland, Franschhoek, Ceres Plateau, and Cederberg.
The modern, perfectly designed winery is the perfect place to implement Jean's balanced philosophy. The grapes are placed in a cold room when they arrive there and gravity moves into the concrete vats where fermentation starts due to the yeast naturally present on the grape skins. The red wines age in 2,000-litre Austrian oak barrels and the white wines in 1,000-litre barrels. The wines spends 10 to 11 months ageing before being bottled just after Christmas. No sulphur is used in the winemaking process until a dose is added just before bottling.
When Jean is not in the winery, he is scouring the Western Cape, in South Africa’s south-west region, looking for passionate winemakers producing premium quality grapes. This region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, ocean winds and a wide variety of soils. Covering over 40,000 kilometres each year, Jean unearths parcels with highly distinctive terroir expressions, which he conveys to perfection in each of his cuvées.

Cabernet Sauvignon, a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, is reputed to be the most widely grown grape variety in the world. The estate was founded in 2017 in the heart of the Stellenbosch winegrowing region in South Africa. Here, the grapes are meticulously selected from the best in the region. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are gathered carefully before being vinified following traditional, low-intervention methods. The cuvée is then aged for 14 months in used French oak casks before being bottled.
The ruby-red colour, slightly tinged with purple, is accented by a bouquet of rich blackberry and blackcurrant aromas mingling with hints of tobacco and vanilla. On the palate, the fruity aromas are complemented by indulgent chocolate flavours, culminating in a long, lingering finish. This cuvée can easily be cellared for five years.